OCCULT SMALL-BOWEL ADENOCARCINOMA COMPLICATING CROHNS-DISEASE - A REPORT OF 3 CASES

Three patients with Crohn's disease are described who were treated by ileal resection for intestinal obstruction. Histological examination o f the resected specimen in each case established the diagnosis of aden ocarcinoma of the small intestine complicating Crohn's disease. This d iagnosis should be considered in patients with longstanding macroscopi c Crohn's disease who present with severe or recurrent symptoms. The d iagnosis may not be apparent on routine radiological examination or ev en macroscopically at laparotomy.